Bevacizumab (BEV) combined with platinum-based chemotherapy is a standard treatment for advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (non-Sq NSCLC). Cisplatin (CDDP) + pemetrexed (PEM) is suggested as the most promising chemotherapy regimen combined with BEV. However, no study has been conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CDDP+PEM+BEV compared with carboplatin (CBDCA) + paclitaxel (PTX) + BEV for advanced non-Sq NSCLC.

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Method

Treatment-naïve patients with advanced or recurrent EGFR/ALK-negative non-Sq NSCLC from 55 sites across Japan were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to either CDDP+PEM+BEV (4 cycles of CDDP [75 mg/m2] + PEM [500 mg/m2] + BEV [15 mg/kg] q3wk, followed by maintenance PEM + BEV q3wk until progression) or CBDCA+PTX+BEV (4 cycles of CBDCA [AUC 6] + PTX [200 mg/m2] + BEV q3wk, followed by maintenance BEV q3wk until progression). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) by central review. The secondary endpoints were PFS by investigators, overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR) and safety profile. The target numbers of patients and events were determined to be 210 and 170, respectively, to observe a point estimate of HR for PFS (CDDP+PEM+BEV/CBDCA+PTX+BEV) <0.83 with a high probability (80%) when the true HR was 0.72.

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Result

Between May 2014 and May 2016, 199 patients were randomly assigned to receive CDDP+PEM+BEV (N=132) or CBDCA+PTX+BEV (N=67). The median follow-up duration was 20.6 months. PFS events occurred in 171 patients. The HR for PFS by central review (CDDP+PEM+BEV/CBDCA+PTX+BEV) was 0.825 (95% CI 0.600-1.134, median PFS, 7.6 vs 7.0 months). The median PFS by investigators was longer with CDDP+PEM+BEV than with CBDCA+PTX+BEV (HR 0.634, 95% CI 0.464-0.867, median PFS, 7.4 vs 6.8 months). The median OS was 24.5 months for CDDP+PEM+BEV and 23.6 months for CBDCA+PTX+BEV (HR 0.955, 95% CI 0.620-1.470). The ORR was 57% for CDDP+PEM+BEV and 55% for CBDCA+PTX+BEV. The most common ≥G3 adverse events in both arms (CDDP+PEM+BEV/CBDCA+PTX+BEV) were neutropenia (24%/64%), hyponatraemia (11%/9%) and hypertension (30%/23%).

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Conclusion

CDDP+PEM is the most effective chemotherapy regimen combined with BEV for advanced non-Sq NSCLC.

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Docetaxel monotherapy is the standard of care for chemo-naïve Japanese elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to our results of phase III trial comparing docetaxel and vinorelbine monotherapies (WJTOG9904). In a pivotal phase III study (REVEL), docetaxel plus ramucirumab demonstrated superior response rate (RR) and progression-free survival (PFS) over docetaxel monotherapy in second-line setting for advanced NSCLC. These differences in RR and PFS were translated into overall survival (OS) benefit. This evidence prompted us to investigate docetaxel plus ramucirumab for chemo-naïve elderly patients. However, in a similarly designed Japanese randomized phase II trial (JVCG trial), febrile neutropenia (FN) was observed in 34.2% of docetaxel plus ramucirumab arm. This high incidence of FN is a clinical concern when using docetaxel plus ramucirumab for elderly patients. The ASCO practice guideline recommends primary prophylactic granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) when the risk of FN is 20% or higher. PEGylated-G-CSF (pegfilgrastim) administered once a cycle demonstrated reduction of FN incidence in many types of cancers. Based on the above background, we considered that primary prophylactic PEG-G-CSF would be beneficial for elderly NSCLC patients who received docetaxel plus ramucirumab.

a9ded1e5ce5d75814730bb4caaf49419
Method

This is a prospective multicenter, single-arm, phase II study conducted by West Japan Oncology Group (WJOG). Main inclusion criteria includes: chemo-naïve; aged ≥75; histologically or cytologically confirmed NSCLC; ECOG PS 0/1; adequate organ functions; with measurable disease; without contraindication of ramucirumab; written informed consent; and estimated life expectancy of at least 3 months. Intravenous docetaxel (60 mg/m2, day 1) plus ramucirumab (10 mg/kg, day 1) with subcutaneous PEG-G-CSF (3.6 mg, day 2) every 3 weeks is administered until progression. Continuous docetaxel or ramucirumab monotherapy is permitted when intolerable toxicities occur but clinical benefit is obtained by each drug. The primary endpoint is objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints are PFS, OS, disease control rate, and safety. We assumed that the threshold and expected ORR were 20% and 35%, respectively. Based on this, the number of patients was calculated to be 59 to provide a power of 80% with probability of one-sided type I error being 0.05. Taking ineligible patients into account, the sample size was set at 65. When the study results are promising, we plan to conduct a phase III trial to compare docetaxel plus ramucirumab with PEG-G-CSF support vs. docetaxel monotherapy for chemo-naïve elderly NSCLC patients. Clinical trial information: UMIN000030598.

The addition of bevacizumab (B) to platinum doublets prolongs the survival for non-squamous NSCLC. The role of monotherapy with B is unclear for elderly non-squamous NSCLC pts.

a9ded1e5ce5d75814730bb4caaf49419
Method

Pts were pathologically diagnosed untreated elderly (≥75 years old) non-squamous NSCLC, who were stage IIIB, IV, or recurrent disease, and PS 0-1. EGFR mutation or ALK rearranged pts were allowed after receiving each tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Pts were randomized 1:1 to receiving either docetaxel (D) or pemetrexed (P) with B. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) assessed by independent review committee. B was administered 15 mg/kg, D was 50 mg/m2, or P was 500 mg/m2 every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity based on our previous studies. Selection design was adopted for this study. The planned sample size was 120 pts to yield 80% power to select an optimal regimen correctly and PB is chosen for the further evaluation if the point estimate of hazard ratio (HR) for PFS was ≤1.20.

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Result

Enrollment was terminated in early at the end of March 2017 because of slow accrual. Total 103 pts (DB/PB= 51/52 pts) were enrolled and 99 pts (49/50 pts) were full analysis set. Patient characteristics were well balanced between two arms. Median age was 78 (range: 75-88) in DB and 79 (75-94) in PB. EGFR mutation+/ALK translocation+/wild type/unknown= 13/0/34/2 in DB and 13/2/33/2 in PB. Total 77 events occurred at data cut-off, which corresponded to 77.7% power. The median PFS of DB and PB were 6.1 months and 4.6 months (HR 1.03, 95%C.I. 0.66-1.61: p=0.901). The response rates were 43% and 40% (p=0.840), respectively. The incident of ≥Grade 3 leukopenia (69% vs. 27%, p<0.001), neutropenia (86% vs. 44%, p<0.001) and fatigue (10% vs. 0%, p=0.027) were higher in DB. However, the frequency of febrile neutropenia was not different (16% vs.12%, p=0.578). One patient in PB was died of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

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Conclusion

PB is less toxic and the efficacy is comparable between two arms for elderly (≥75 years old) advanced non-squamous NSCLC. PB is a candidate for the further evaluation. Clinical Trial information: UMIN000012786.

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